Dear Students, Families, and Colleagues,
On behalf of Coast Mountains School District, Truth and Reconciliation Week invites us to pause, listen, and deepen our understanding of the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools. We honour the children who never returned home, Survivors, their families, and the communities who continue to carry these truths. Reconciliation is an ongoing responsibility, reflected in our daily decisions, relationships, and actions.
At Coast Mountains School District 82, this responsibility begins with ensuring Indigenous students feel valued, supported, and connected to their identity, and that their families feel welcomed and respected as partners in education. Every student deserves to experience belonging and to learn alongside people who recognize their strengths, believe in their potential, and support their success.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our District In-Service Day on September 25. Your presence, participation, and willingness to learn helped make this a meaningful day of connection with our local Nations. Through learning about local histories, languages, cultures, stories, and land, we strengthened our understanding of the communities we serve and the relationships that support our students and families.
We extend our appreciation to the Indigenous Education Councils, partner Nations, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, presenters, and organizers who shared their time, knowledge, and guidance. We also honour Indigenous students and families whose experiences, perspectives, and contributions help guide our work. These connections remind us that learning is grounded in relationships with one another, with community, and with the land, and that these relationships require care, respect, and ongoing commitment.
As education leaders and staff, we have a responsibility to carry this learning into our classrooms, schools, and district practices. This includes listening to students and families, making space for Indigenous voices, strengthening partnerships with families and Education Coordinators, and addressing barriers to attendance, learning, and graduation. Our work must continue to respect the distinct identities, priorities, and teachings of the Ts’msyen, Haisla, Gitxsan, and Nisga’a Nations.
As we observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, let us consider how the learning we shared can guide our everyday work. Each conversation, connection, and decision is an opportunity to strengthen
trust and create school communities where Indigenous students know they belong and their families know they are valued.
T'oyaxsut'nüün, Thank you,
